Volleyball Physics
By: Alex Yang and Brendan Beamer
Volleyball Basics
Motion of Volleyball
- Overhand Serving: The server throws ball up in the air and hit its with their arm that has circular motion. Ball then fly through air in an arc-like motion before gravity and friction acts upon it to make it stop.
- Underhand Serving: The ball is placed on server's hand. It is then hit with server's hand that goes in a downward arc. The ball then goes through the air, in an arc-like motion, depending on where the ball is hit. Gravity and friction work to stop the ball from moving.
- Forearm Passing (Bump): The ball hits the passer's forearm, causing a change in it's motion. The motion of ball is also arc-like, but it depends on where the ball hits the passer's forearms. Gravity and friction work to stop the ball moving.
- Overhead Passing (Set): The motion from the setter is a push, usually upwards. The motion of the ball is usually straight up, but it depends how the setter sets it.
- Spike: The spiker's arm is in a circular motion, very similar to how the overhand serve is. When hit, the ball's motion is abruptly changed, and the ball accelerates. The ball's motion is a straight downward motion, unless redirected by a player or an object.
Overhand Serve
Underhand Serve
Forearm Pass (Bump)
Overhead Pass (Set)
Spike
Arrows of Forces
Newton's First Law
Newton's First Law of Motion is displayed in the sport of volleyball because the ball will continue flying through the air unless it is hit, bounces off an object, or gets pulled to the floor by the gravity and friction stops it.
Newton's Second Law
Newton's Second of Law of Motion states, "The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net external force acting on the object and inversely proportional to the mass of the object."
Newton's Second Law of Motion is seen many times throughout a game of volleyball. The mass of the ball will stay exactly the same throughout the entirety of the game. Therefore, only the acceleration of the swing will affect the amount of force behind the ball during a spike.
Newton's Third Law
Newton's Third Law of Motion states, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."
Newton's Law of Motion affects volleyball in that when the ball is hit, the force of the ball hitting the person’s hands makes an equal and opposite reaction and the volleyball will bounce back up with an equal force.